“He flourished under Reagan; he languished under Clinton-Bush; and died under Obama. Let’s hope the parallel does not continue.” — Rush Limbaugh on the death of Michael Jackson. Rush Limbaugh Show, July 1, 2009

Yes, the show that never ends, come inside, come inside. Balls-to-the-walls 24 hour “news” coverage continues, of the post 6-25, story of the century: The Life and Death of a Pop-Star Icon. This story needs a brain. So, where are you Sir Walter, when we need you?

…forensic pathologists theorize that tissue, or entire organs may have been missing from Michael Jackson’s remains when they released to the Jackson family after the June 25 preliminary autopsy results. ABCNEWS (syndicate)

“…brain cannot be properly examined at the time of the autopsy. You cannot test it while it is in the body. So it is cut off at the spinal cord and removed…would usually be placed in a plastic bucket, suspended in formaldehyde fluid, and put in a refridgerator at 4C to preserve it…People don’t realise how soft the brain is. To do the type of detailed examination required you need to have the brain much harder – and for that you haveto wait for at least 10 days to two weeks.” — Dr. Cyril Wecht, forensic pathologist.

– MICHAEL Jackson starred as the Scarecrow in The Wiz, the 1978 musical version of The Wizard of Oz – playing the character without a brain opposite Diana Ross as Dorothy.

And then there’s this jewel from MJ’s tour promoter:

…promoter has said the star’s ill-fated London show could be turned into a tribute gig featuring his family.

Randy Phillips, president of AEG Live, told Sky News he was “discussing with the family” the possibility of mounting the show in some form.

“I would imagine it could be done as a tribute with the family, with the brothers performing, some sisters, and the stars that were influenced by him,” he said.

“The world needs to see this production. It would have been, which is the tragedy here, one of the most amazing shows ever.”

Just the other day I quipped, the Jackson’s should do the “tour” as a tribute to MJ. We all laughed at the absurdity, the absolute impossibility of such a travesty ever taking place. I’d say, odds are now 50/50 it happens.

Picture tells the story

Some amazing photos were taken of the aborted auction to be helled by Juliean’s by Lindy West upon her visit to LA earlier this year where she viewed MJ’s attempt to stave off the debt collectors by staging the greatest, most kitchiest garage sale — ever.

"I'm a multidimensional creature..."

Lindy West..see her slog.

And what ever became of Bubbles, anyway? And the Elephant man’s bones?

There was Bubbles the pet chimpanzee that Jackson claimed he shared a toilet with, and his claim to have purchased the bones of the legendary Elephant Man. In time most of these and other stories were revealed as fictions started by Jackson himself.

“Let’s knock out the psychobabble. He was a pervert, a child molester, he was a pedophile. And to be giving this much coverage to him, day in and day out, what does it say about us as a country? I just think we’re too politically correct.”

In his defense, we should remember, MJ was acquitted of all molestation charges. And that makes me wonder just what skeletons are hiding in the right honorable eight term Republican, soon to be senate hopeful, congressman’s closet. Like watching an episode of the Sopranos, (only in this case the shanty-Irish ones) I’m waiting for the sound of a gunshot at the end of the video…betcha anything the good congressman, gets caught trying to date some 12 year old boy on Facebook, someday.

Tarnish to the armor

Like Warhole before him, MJ’s image (once to be found everywhere at his Neverland Ranch ) as much as his music, was his signature; the man in the mirror, moon walking fool, mindless scarecrow or brave sir knight, how we remember him will depend upon how we experienced him and our recollections will be shaped by this image maker of iconic proportions.